The Terry Foundation

MY story is the #TerryLegacy On November 27th—Terry Legacy Day—the Terry Scholar community comes together to celebrate the thousands of stories that make us who we are. It’s a day to reflect on the incredible impact the The Terry Foundation has had in transforming the lives of nearly 7,000 students across Texas by providing them with a full-ride, last-dollar scholarship to pursue higher education without the burden of student debt. I’m proud to say that I am one of those 7,000 students who were gifted a life-changing opportunity by Mr. Howard Terry. Last month, I had the incredible honor of delivering the keynote speech at the UT Dallas Terry Banquet. For a long time, I knew I would eventually have to share my Terry story. I owed it to the Foundation and to all the people who supported me along the way. But honestly, it wasn’t until after my speech that I realized just how much my story resonated with others. Fellow Terrys came up to me afterward — asking questions, sharing similar experiences, and several students even said, “I really needed to hear that right now.” Those conversations, along with encouragement from other Terry alumni, made me realize that maybe my story might be worth sharing beyond the banquet room. In my speech, I share how I overcame the challenge of losing my Terry Scholarship for a semester, the unwavering support I received from the Terry Foundation during a time when I felt undeserving, and how that experience shaped everything I’ve achieved since. (FYI – The speech was written for live delivery, so there are a few jokes in there that probably landed better in person. Just picture me delivering it!) My hope is that by sharing this, I can offer encouragement to current Terrys who might be feeling the weight of finals or personal struggles. And maybe inspire fellow alumni to share their own stories too—because each one of us has a unique journey that’s worth telling. This is for you, Mr. Terry—and for all of us who are part of this amazing community. * Know a promising Texas high school student? Make sure they are aware of The Terry Foundation scholarship! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gUB6hKhU * Want to support the success of future generations of Texas students? Donate to the Terry Scholars Fund. https://lnkd.in/gr7a8hCs Learn more about Mr. Terry's long, successful life and about the ongoing impact of his mission in our documentaries:  “A Generous Life: The Story of Howard Terry"  https://lnkd.in/gDUu9v6M “Giving: The Story of the Terry Foundation” https://lnkd.in/g9ptmQiU #TerryProud

I'm traveling this week to welcome our new class of 2024 #TerryScholars. The Terry Foundation will be supporting 1,005 Terry Scholars this year with full ride funding at 11 Texas public universities. Our 320 new freshmen receive a warm welcome at Terry Orientation, where they learn about our founders, Howard and Nancy Terry, and get to meet with Terry Staff and the upperclassmen on their campus. It's an exciting time of the year to see the enthusiasm and potential in these high achieving students. It's also wonderful to hear stories from our returning students who are coming back from internships, study abroad and learning and service opportunities they engaged in over the summer. Sending our best wishes to everyone returning to the classroom this month! Students, teachers, professors and administrators - we hope you have a great year ahead! And that includes our many Terry Scholar Alumni who are educating and supporting the future leaders of Texas and beyond. We are #terryproud of each and every one of you!

Hello everyone! March 22nd marks Terry Giveback Day, an occasion close to our hearts. I'm thrilled to share my experience of giving back this year. After weeks of planning, I spearheaded a week-long giveback initiative aimed at benefiting our community, fostering connections among UNT Terry Scholars, and supporting our statewide service: the coalition to combat human trafficking. Each day presented UNT scholars with opportunities to contribute in various ways. We kicked off the week by volunteering at our local homeless shelter, and concluded with our annual Career Brunch, facilitating networking opportunities for alumni and current scholars. Throughout the week, we organized a charity ball, introduced new merchandise, and spread acts of kindness across campus. Remarkably, by Thursday morning, we raised over $500 for our statewide service. I'm #Terryproud of our scholars for their significant impact on #TerryDay, and I eagerly anticipate their future endeavors. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the 2023-2024 officer team for their unwavering support and dedication, as well as to all scholars and alumni who joined in. Your combined effort and enthusiasm played a crucial role in the success of this event. The Terry Foundation

The city of Houston, TX named March 22nd "Nancy and Howard Terry Day" to honor their philanthropy. Although the proclamation is for a single city, Mr. and Mrs. Terry have had a far-reaching impact by investing in the education of over 6,500 students (with this number ever growing!) who start their education journey in Texas and continue to have an impact worldwide. The Terry Foundation and Terry Scholars honor and celebrate this day with Terry Give Back Day through acts of service and philanthropy. I give back by donating my time to the Canines Who Care therapy dog program through the PAWS Shelter of Central Texas. Ralph, the bestest boy, and I visit with students in a local elementary school to bring comfort and joy. You can learn more about the Canines Who Care program at: https://lnkd.in/dCHDJbRx How do you give back?

Today is Terry Give Back Day! I wanted to take this moment to reflect on the impact The Terry Foundation had on my undergraduate experience and even now in law school. Five years ago, the Terry interview panel validated my hard work and perseverance by listening to my story and selecting me to be a Terry Scholar. Receiving this honor provided me with both the financial support I needed to make college a reality and it served as affirmation that I belonged in higher education. For many first generation college and law students, imposter syndrome is specially difficult to overcome because we are achieving many firsts for our family and community. I am forever thankful to Caroline Enriquez and the rest of the Terry Team as they were always making sure Terrys knew we were chosen for a reason. During my interview, the panel asked me: "How will you give back if you become a scholar?" My answer has always remained the same: I will make sure to show gratitude to those who have shown generosity to me by passing it on to those who will come after me. This is why I continue to remain actively involved in clinics, mentorship programs, and community organizations as a law student. For #TerryDay, I joined the Permanency Court of Dallas to check-in with the foster youth I have had the privilege of mentoring this past year. I have worked diligently alongside the Office of Experiential Education of UNT Dallas College of Law to create monthly events that provide life skills and encourage youth to pursue the next step in their career. We have all, at one point or another, received a helping hand or words of wisdom that encouraged us to get to where we are now. I would like to challenge my LinkedIn connections to find ways in which they can mentor and encourage those around them to pursue the next step in their career. If you are interested in law school, let me be a resource for you.